The Hawaii Republican Party deleted a series of tweets and replies appearing to defend those who believe in the QAnon conspiracy theory, some of whom just weeks ago stormed the Capitol in an attack that killed five.
Though the thread did call the QAnon conspiracy — a pro-Trump online internet conspiracy theory that alleges, among other things, a cabal of cannibalistic pedophiles operates a deep state bend on stopping Trump — a “fiction,” the thread made no mention of real-world violence incited by its supporters. Instead, the thread criticized the media for “hyperbolic” coverage of the conspiracy theory and said that those who acted out of “patriotism and love of Country should never be ridiculed.”
Well it looks like Hawaii GOP are QAnon apologists. It also seems that they would be in agreement that the QAnon insurectionists were motivated by “patriotsm” and “love for country”. pic.twitter.com/C9sFItmSfP
— Marc-André Argentino (@_MAArgentino) January 24, 2021
“We should make it abundantly clear – the people who subscribed to the Q fiction, were largely motivated by a sincere and deep love for America,” one deleted tweet read. “Patriotism and love of County should never be ridiculed.”
“People who followed Q don’t deserve mockery, the world is a complex place, there are bad actors, injustice, corruption – the processes of justice and the mechanisms our Republic are slow by design, abuses and wrongs are always swifter than correction,” another tweet said. “People want hope.”
A number of individuals who were arrested for participating in the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill were later identified as QAnon supporters, including one Trump supporter who captured the internet’s attention for wearing a large headdress with bison horns who was identified as “Q Shaman” Jake Angeli. Ashli Babbitt, a protester who was shot and died during the attack, was also later identified as a QAnon theorist.
In 2019, the FBI labeled QAnon as part of “anti-government, identity based, and fringe political conspiracy theories likely motivate some domestic extremists, wholly or in part, to engage in criminal or violent activity.”
The Hawaii GOP’s tweets were almost immediately criticized by both Republicans and Democrats.
“Allow me to edit please,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican who called for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office ahead of President Biden’s inauguration, replied. “‘We should make it abundantly clear, Q is false, we never should have allowed it to spread, and the attack on the Capitol was the worst day in America in recent memory and we denounce it.’ Try that instead.”
Allow me to edit please: “We should make it abundantly clear, Q is false, we never should have allowed it to spread, and the attack on the Capitol was the worst day in America in recent memory and we denounce it.” Try that instead @gophawaii https://t.co/WqlpmDJFoX
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 24, 2021
“There is nothing patriotic in defending Q-Anon adherents,” the Democratic Party of Hawai’i wrote in a statement. “There is nothing honorable in defending the Proud Boy antics.”
We never thought we’d have to say it, but here we are… pic.twitter.com/GdcmAPvlfL
— Hawaiʻi Dems (@HawaiiDems) January 24, 2021
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Hawaii GOP and the five Republican state lawmakers in Hawaii for further comment.
